Tubular lantern



(N0 Model.)

0. 1). WOODRUFF.

TUBULAR LANTERN.

No. 408,782. Patented Aug. 13, 1889.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OLIVER D. WVOODRUFF, OF SOUTHINGTON, CONNECTICUT.

TUBULAR LANTERN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 408,782, dated August 13, 1889.

Application filed January 26, 1889. Serial No. 297,657. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OLIVER D. WooDRUFF, residing at Southington, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tubular Lanterns; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in tubular lanterns, the object being to simplify and cheapen their construction and to increase their convenience in use over lanterns of this class as heretofore made.

IVith these ends in view my invention consists in a tubular lantern having certain details of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a lantern embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a view perspective thereof with the globe removed. Fig. 3 is a broken view in vertical section through the burner-plate, the two guide-tubes, the liftingspring, and the base of the lantern. Fig. 4 is a broken view in perspective showing how the locking-finger of the burner-plate co-operates with the loop-shaped locking-spring to form a guide for the plate in its vertical movements, and Fig. 5 is a detached view in central transverse section of the burner-plate through the globe-retaining devices thereof.

The lantern herein shown is provided with a base A, which contains the font, draft-tubes B B, a stationary central-draft tube C, a globecap or dome D, rigidly secured to the lower end of such tube, and a burner E. The lantern is also provided with a perforated burnerplate F, having a central opening adapting it to fit over the burner and forming the lower support for the globe G of the lantern. Two parallel globe-retaining devices H and I, extending in length transversely to a line drawn diametrically across the plate, are secured to the said plate at opposite points thereon in position to stand up within the lower end of the globe when the same is in place. These retaining devices are rigidly secured to the plate, and, as herein shown, are made of wire,

which, I would have it understood, may be replaced by any material suitable to the purpose.

The retaining device H, which maybe called the outer retaining device,because it is on that side of the lantern from which the globe is introduced and removed, virtually consists of a loop of wire standing above the edge of the plate and bent outward, so as to permit the edge of the globe to he slipped or caught under it, this device forming a virtually rigid point of purchase, as it were, for the operation of the globe.

The inner retaining device I, so called be cause it is located on that side of the lantern which is opposite from the side thereof from which the globe is introduced and removed, consists of a loop standing up a little higher than the outer retaining device and havingits cross-piece bent to form an outwardly-proj ecting finger, the whole device being adapted to spring back when the globe is pressed down over it and to then recover and engage its finger with the globe, which it assists in holding in place. By arranging the retaining devices to extend in length transversely to a line drawn diametrically across the plate, and hence to present their length to the globe, a much better grip is secured therefor than when theyjare arranged parallel with a line drawn diametrically across the plate, as has heretofore been done. The loop of the device H and the finger of the device I constitute, as it were, long gripping-faces, and, be ing arranged for lengthwise presentation to the globe or guard, hold the same very firmly. These retaining devices co-operate with a laterallyyielding globe-holder J, adapted to support and guide the upper end of the globe and to permit such end of the globe to play up and down through it. As herein shown, this globe-holder is made from a single piece of wire bent to embrace more than half of the circumference of the globe, then .back upon itself at the ends of such bent portion, then upward and rearward for attachment to the under face of the stationary globe-cap and then downward to form braces consisting of the ends of the wire, which are soldered or otherwise fastened to the curved portion of the holder at a point sufficiently back of the open side thereof to effectually brace it under the strain of introducing and removing the globe. The open side of the curved portion of the said support faces toward the outside of the lantern and so stands above the outer of the two globeretaining devices upon the burner-plate. This plate is automatically lifted by a spiral spring K, inclosed within a tube L, depending from its edge and telescoping in a larger tube M, standing up from the base of the lantern. These two tubes confine the burner-plate to vertical movement and prevent its tilting or rotation around the burner.

The plate is locked in its normal or depressed position against the lifting-power of the spring by means of a locking-finger N, projecting from its edge and consisting of a loop of wire having parallel sides and adapted to play up and down between the parallel sides of a long loop-shaped locking-spring 0, made just enough wider to permit the locking-finger to play up and down in it, as de scribed. The ends of the wire from which this locking-spring is formed are respectively fastened to the opposite faces of the adjacent draft-tube B, which is embraced by the F111- gers of the hand for drawing the spring back to disengage its looped lower end from the upper face of the locking-finger.

Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings show the locking-finger and locking-spring in their normal position of engagement, while Fig. 4 of the .drawings shows how these parts cooperate to guide and steady the burner-plate, and hence the globe, when such parts are being lifted and pulled down.

It will be understood that after the loopshaped locking-spring has been pulled away from the locking-finger the spiral spring will at once operate to lift the plate, and hence the locking-finger. Now as soon as the end of this finger has been lifted above the looped end of the locking-finger the same is let go, when it flies back and embraces the lockingfinger, as shown by Fig. 4 of the drawings. The burner-plate is pulled down by two operating-loops P 1, formed of wire in one piece with the locking-finger and respectively extending out on opposite sides thereof, so as to be readily engaged by the thumb and fingers of the hand around the adjacent drafttube.

To put the globe into my improved lantern, it is slightly canted from the vertical in the hand to permit a point in its lower edge to be slipped under the outer globe-retaining device, which now holds its lower end in place while its upper end is pressed against the open side of the laterally-yielding globe-support, which opens under this pressure and receives it within its curved portion. As the upper end of the globe finds its right place in the globe-support, that portion of its lower edge opposite the outer retaining device is pressed down over thcinner retaining device, the outwardly projecting finger of which springs back to let it pass and then recovers to engage with its inner face at a point within the swell of the globe, which is now retained in place both at its upper and lower ends.

To remove the globe, it is grasped .near its upper end, which is pulled away from the globe-support, which expands laterally to release it, the lower end of the globe being steadied meanwhile by the outer globe-retaining device, which forms a point of purchase both for the insertion and removal of the globe.

It has already been explained that when the loop-shaped lockingspring is disengaged from the locking-finger the spiral liftingspring at once lifts the bu rner-plate and the globe above the burner, the globe and plate being restored to their normal. positions by pulling down the plate by means of the operatingloops thereto provided. As the globe is thus lifted and depressed, its upper end plays up and down through the globe-support.

I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein shown and described, but hold myself at lib erty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

If desired, the stationary globe-retainin g devices may be applied to the burner-plates, or the parts corresponding thereto, of burners designed for other forms of lamps than lanterns. I do not, therefore, limit myself to lanterns in the use of this feature of my i nvention.

Having fully described my inventiomwh at I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an oil-burner, the combination, with the plate thereof, of two stationary globe-1e taining devices, each consisting of a loop secured to the said plate upon which the devices are arranged for engagement throughout their length with the globe, substantially as set forth.

2. In a tubular lantern, the combination, with the plate thereof, of two parallel. stationary globe-retaining devices secured to the plate on which they are arranged to be engaged throughout their length by the globe, one of the devices being virtually rigid and hooked outward for the edge of the globe to he slipped under it, and the otherbeing yielding and adapted to be sprung toward the center of the plate when the globe is applied to the plate or removed therefrom, substantially as set forth.

A tubular lantern having a rigid frame and a stationary globecap or dome, an automatieally-lifted burner-plate confined to vertical movement by guides, globe-retainin g devices mounted upon such plate in position to stand up within the globe when the same is in place thereon, and. a laterally-yielding globe-holder adapted to permitthe upper end of the globe to play up and down in it, suly stantially as set forth.

4. A tubular lantern having a laterallyyielding globe-holder for the upper end of the globe to play up and down in, attached to the globe-cap of the lantern and braced against lateral displacement, substantially as set forth.

5. A tubular lantern having a laterallyyielding globe-holder for the upper end of the globe to play up and down in, consisting of a single piece of wire bent to embrace more than half of the circumference of the globe, then bent upward and rearward at points on opposite sides of its curved portion, and then bent downward to join such curved portion and brace the whole holder against displacement, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

OLIVER D. VVOODRUFF. 

